Mononucleosis In Pregnancy
Can you have mononucleosis in pregnancy? As a mother, it is a question that you will ask yourself among many other doubts. You may also wonder if getting sick will affect your baby.
Mononucleosis is a common infectious disease that can spread to anyone. This includes pregnant women. Furthermore, the causative agent is not a single virus.
In the specific case of pregnant women, the pathology carries some added risks with consequences for the fetus. We tell you everything you need to know about mononucleosis in pregnancy, and why you have to be very careful at this stage.
What is mononucleosis?
Mononucleosis is also known as the kissing disease . It is an infectious pathology produced by different types of viruses, which are transmitted from person to person through saliva and other body secretions.
In general, it is benign and self-healing. This means that it does not leave sequelae and that it heals after a while, even without receiving treatment. Once the immune system fights off the virus and expels it, the problem is over.
The two viruses that cause the vast majority of mononucleosis are Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus. Although it can occur at any age and in anyone, it is true that up to 95% of people over 40 have already gone through this pathology and have generated immunity.
These data reveal that it is a disease that usually affects children and adolescents. Once it has been overcome, the immunity that was acquired lasts for life and protects us for future contacts with infectious agents.
Symptoms of mononucleosis in pregnancy
The type of symptoms and the intensity with which they occur vary from one person to another. Usually the disease incubates in about 10 to 14 days, during which there are no symptoms. However, there are records of up to a month of incubation.
After the initial period, the signs begin gradually. Mononucleosis in pregnancy does not differ in its presentation from what happens to a non-pregnant person. Once they appear, it is common for symptoms to last between 2 and 4 weeks, the following being more common:
- Fever, which ranges between a few tenths or higher values.
- Sore throat and headache, because the virus affects the mucosa of the pharynx. Tonsillitis and pharyngitis occur.
- General tiredness with extreme fatigue. There is a feeling of heaviness in the muscles and limbs that prevents the performance of daily activities.
- Swelling of the lymph nodes that can be felt on long journeys through the body. The most frequent areas in which we can observe this are the armpits, neck and groin.
Sometimes both the liver and spleen can become inflamed. Their increased size makes them palpable on an abdominal examination, when it is normal for them to be difficult to find on physical examination.
Risks and consequences of mononucleosis in pregnancy
In most cases, mononucleosis is a condition that does not cause complications. As we have said, it is usually self-healing and, after a few weeks, the symptoms end up disappearing.
It is such a benign condition that many are not even aware that they are suffering from it, and the infection passes without any problem. That explains the immunity that is acquired in adulthood without knowing the precise moment in which it was generated.
However, in the case of pregnant women, some precautions must be taken. Both cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus can pass to the fetus through the placenta.
The development of the baby in the womb is a very delicate stage. If a virus makes contact during embryogenesis, there can be serious consequences. In the case of mononucleosis of pregnancy, the problem occurs when the mother acquires the infection and has not had it before.
The most delicate moment is the first trimester of pregnancy. This is when all the baby’s organs are developing.
If the mother becomes infected in the first trimester and passes it on to the fetus, this can have fatal consequences. Some of the sequelae that these viruses can produce in the baby are deafness and microcephaly.
In addition, the Epstein-Barr virus is associated with preterm delivery. This means that it increases the chances of an early labor, with the baby coming out of the womb before it is ready.
Prevention as a general rule
Although mononucleosis is not usually a serious disease, it can cause serious side effects in the baby during pregnancy. There are tests that are performed on pregnant women, in which you can find out if you have already generated immunity against this type of virus.
In the event that the pregnant woman has not passed the infection, she should exercise extreme caution. You will need to be very careful around people with compatible symptoms, and ideally do not share personal items.
On the other hand, if you notice any compatible symptoms, you should go to the specialist as soon as possible. The faster the diagnosis, the lower the chances that the fetus will be affected.
